Engine starter



' ANaw-17', 1925.

R. CHILTON K ENGINE STARTER y l l l Filed April 12. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 17, 1925. 1,561,506

\ R. CHILTON ENGINE STARTER Filed'April 12. 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 A TTOH/VEY Novfl?, 1925. 1,561,506

l R. CHILTON ENGINE STARTER Filed April 12. 1924 :s sheets4sheet s *53 amlln .INIHIHUHU IIIIINIIIII Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STAT-ssastiene PATENT- ortica.

ROLAND CHILTON, OF KEYPOET, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOE, T AEROMAEINE PLANE &

MOTOR COMPANY, INC., A' CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ENGINE STARTER.

Application tiled April 12, 1924. Serial No. 706,142.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that ROLAND CHILTON, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Keyport, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partI of this specification.

This invention relates to means for storing energy and delivering the same at a high rate of output for doing work of a nature requiring a greater effort extended over a short space of time than the source of power' available is adapted to develop. The present embodiment relates more specifically 4to. the starting of 'internal combustion engines, and features a means especially, adaptable to startin the larger or heaviertypes associated wit aircraft where a great effort is desired for a short space of time only.- For this purpose manual energy as well as electrical energy are in common use for the operation of devices where the energy must be develo ed at .the same rate at which it is absorbe by the engine. To obtain the relatively highl cranking speeds desired to insure prompt starting entails a greater rate of energy output than can be' directly applied manually, and the practical limitations on the weight of existing electrical equipment also limit the rate at which energy can be delivered tothe engine to be started with conventional starting means.

This invention contemplates means wherebythe energy-required is temporarily stored as in a ily-wheel or other mass so that it may lie-#accumulated by less effort and ex- 40 tended over a longer eriod, than would be the casein direct cran 'ng, and then applied as al relatively great effort extending'over a shorter time. l

On account ofthe lar e torqueA requirements for cranking the erger engines, 'relatively high' gear reductions are resort to in order to keep down the Vefort'required;

this results in anvundesirably'low cranking speed which commonly causes-the start to be d elayed. The total amount of energy put into an engine in the case of a delayed start characteristicv of the existing appara- 4 tus, is suicient to turn the engine over for a shorter period at much greater speed. This invention aims at lproviding practical means whereby the available energy may be applied to the crank-shaft at greater rate than that at which such energy is developed.

It will be seen; that the torque eort exerted by the energy source in existing4 cranking devices must be 'suiiicent to turn the engine over under the most adverse conditions as to stiffness. By utilizing the storage principle as contemplated in this invention, the torque applied by the energizing means may be of any convenient amount providing only it is continued long enough to accumulate theneces'sary energy. Experience has shown that ifv an internal combustion engine be rotated at 100 R. l?. M. or more', it will start firing in less than two` revolutions, even'under adverse conditions, providing the engine is in ,con-

dition to function at all. lWith manual operation it is quite impossible to produce any such speed, sixor seven revolutions per minute being about as much as is realized with manual cranking on aircraft engines of considerable size, while the heaviest'elec'- trical apparatus considered practical for aircraft use lproduces an engine speed of about 25 R. P. M., which speeds are insufcient to' insure prompt `starting except under thevmost favorable conditions.

This invention contemplates the use of a ily-wheel or other mass capable of being accelerated to high speed as the storage means. The energy kinetically stored in a moving body is a function of its 'mass and the square of its velocity, so that by utilizing high velocities relatively small masses are adequate. For instance, a small flywheel of 3% lbs. weight operating at 130 times crank shaft speed is equivalent as tol -stored energy to a flywheel mass of 1,000

lbs. 3 ft. diameter applied 'directly to the`- crankshaft.l Accordingly, a gear reduction between the ilywheel of this invention and,

ed the crankshaft 'of the engine to be startedis utilized and the same-'reduction gear may conveniently be used as'the means for drivthe' -wheel vfromvr the source of power during t e energizing process, when the gear train will be disconnected from the engine shaft. Y

` The principal diiculty the way of apdevise means whereby the rapidly revolving wheel can be connected to the' engine to be started without engendering excessive loads at the instant of engagement. Conventional forms of friction clutches are unsatisfactory for this purpose'because the load at which such clutches slip depends upon the condition of the friction surfaces which changesv rapidly when slipping occurs. This invention contemplates the use of a special calibrated form of friction clutch such as is featured for example in the copending application of Hayes, Ser. No. 649,089 Filed July 2, 1923. In this device friction surfaces are loaded by means of a4 spring which is also subjectto the driving load and the parts are so organized that the friction applying load of the spring is relieved by an excessive driving load so that the connection slips at the same pre-determined eHort regardless of the condition of the friction surfaces. In conventional types of friction clutches on the other hand, the slipping point is directly proportional to the coefficient of friction which may vary over a wide range according to temperature, lubrication, and other. conditions.

It will be seen that the point at which this device yields should always be in excess of the maximum eort required to turn the engine, while 1t must also always be within the strength of the parts. This will be a narrow margin if the parts are to be of minimum weight and hence the importance of a slipping device -that will constantly exert the same torque effort. It is a well-known characteristic of friction surfaces that the friction of rest is much greater than the friction under movement, in other words, that vthe effort required to initiate slipping is very much greater than the effort required to continue the movement after the surfaces have Y broken away. This is an additional reason why the ap lication of conventional friction clutches or the purpose here contemplated is impracticable. With the calibrated form of slipping clutch such as exemplified in the copending application above mentioned the break-away torque is the same as the torque developed under subsequent slipping and the combination o-f such a slipping means with a fly-wheel means for the purposes set forth is one of the principal features of this invention. f

A specific object of this invention is to provide av lightaa'n'd efiicient means whereby a relatively high startingJ speed may be im'- pressed on the engine from'amanual source and whereby the rate at which energy-is a piled to the engine is muchA greater Ithan t e rate at which an operator can develop such ener capa le of exerting one-fifth of a horsepower For example, if the operatorbe fortwenty seconds and if upon engagement with the engine the starter is then brought to rest in two seconds the energy will be applied at the rate ofl two horsepower during the cranking process.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the effort needed in cranking a relatively large engine. It will be seen that in direct cranking the effort necessary is proportional to the resistance oered by the engine With the device here described, the operator can set his own pace in bringing the. ily-wheel up to speed and, on engagement with the engine, the torque available is determined by the setting of the slipping clutch which is limited only by the strength of the parts. A

Another object'of this invention is to provide a means whereby stored energy may be accumulated immediately before use and thus avoid the loss of energy associated with storage over protracted periods, as by compressed air or by electrical storage.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a means for accumulating energy suitable for starting engines, or for similar uses, which shall be of substantially less weight than such storage means as compressed air tanks or electrical batteries.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for accumulating Iand utilizing energy from a source, such as manual power, that will be available under all operating conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for accumulating energy, for engine starting or other short-interval power need, .which may be independent of power driven generators. u

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and a careful consideration of the following particular description and claims of one form of mechanismembodying my invention.

In the drawings: t I

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the ievice taken approximately at the center.'

Figure 2 is an open end view looking from the engine side with some of the parts broken away for the sake of clearness.

Figure 3 illustrates a two speed manually operated driving means, partly in Section, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a plan v iew on an enlarged lscale illustrating the normal position ofN a means adapted to axially shift a driven clutch to engage the engine shaft.

Figure 5 is a view showing the shifted ing attached to the engine. 8 as by a. plate` l position of the elements illustrated in Fig. 4.

' starting mechanism comprising a reduction gear train adapted to drlve or to be driven from a fly-wheel 11. Embodied in this gear train is a calibrated form of friction clutch 12 such as is featured in the copending application hereinbefore mentioned and which is adapted to control the load applied to the en 'ne shaft 13.

n a shaft 14, there is secured the flywheel 11 and a pinion 15.

Rotatably supported in the bearings 16, 17 is a drum 18, saiddrum being provided vwith a pinion 19. Surrounding the drum 1S accurate iit can be provided between the friction band and the drum than could be ob'tlained by winding a band to form the co1 Meshing with the pinion 15 is a gear member 24 rotatably supported on the antifriction bearings 25 1n a manner so as to permit of it having frictionless relative rov tary motion to the drum 18, said gear being provided with a series of splines26 adapted to interlock with the splines 21 of the friction band. 4

Surrounding both the drum and the friction band 20 is a floatin cylindrical `member 27 one end of which is provided with a series' of splines 29 to engage the splines 22 of the friction band.

Mounted on the member 27 in a rotationally adjustable manner as at 28, (Figs. 1 and 6) is a spider-30 having a plurality of projections 31 provided with notches 32 in which are supported one endof a set of springs 33, the other end Aof the sprin S be ing secured to theggear 24 by means o? slotted lugs 34 forming part of the gear. These springs are introduced into the mechanism under some initial tension so as to wind up the band 2O on the drum for maintaining ber 27 with its associated spider is sustained suiicient frictional engagement therewith to drive the same. AThe springs 33 which generate this friction are so dlsposed as to tend to advance the spider 30 relative tothe gear 24 whereby a winding up or tightening action is im osedl on the band '20 by virtue of the spline connection between the cylindrical member 27 and the friction band 20. It will be seen that the gear 24 and the connection lcrmprising the splines 21, 26 does not transmit the driving torque' to the friction band but that it takes the reaction due to the winding up action of theV springs onthe band 20. The drive is transmitted driven means.

from the gear to the cylindrical member 27 through t esprin s'33 and from the cylindrical member to t e band by the splines 22., 29, the parts being so organized as to tenf. to unwmd the band in opposition to the spring action.

. It is' characteristic of a band s uch as that shown and described that a very small winding up tendency between its ends results in v a relatively great driving friction. It will be seen that in addition tol exerting the winding up action on the band, the springs function as the only means of drive transmission between the 4spider 30 and the gear 24. Only a small portion of the tension exerted by the springs is used to maintain adequate frictional contact of the band on the4 drum by the winding up action, the main portion of the tension of said springs being employed in transmitting the drive. it is a requisite in devices of this kind that in order to obtain good calibration' only a smallproportion of the force exerted by the springs be used to generate adequate frictional contact between the driving and the Provision is made for adjusting .the releasing torque of the device by adjusting the tension of the springs 33 in the following manner: With reference to Fig. 6 there is shown a nut having a V groove 71 which is engaged by a knife-edge portion 72 of the cylindrical member 27. `In the nut 70 there is disposed an adjusting screw 73 of which a ball end 74 engages a suitable. depression in a boss 75 formed on the spider 30. The nut 70 is split as at 76 and a locking' screw 77 is provided for the purpose of locking any ad'ustment made. It will be seen that the a vancement or retraction of vthe screw 73 will cause relative rotary mo- .desired degree'of tension within the` range of the device can be provided in the springs 33 by the adjustment of the screw 73. f

It will be seen that the cylindrical memonly at the point of engagement with the friction band, and that ample clearance is provided between said band and the cylindrical member. This isfor' the purpose qf preventing side pressures being imposed on the band which would effect the calibration thereof.

A gear 35'meshes with the pinion 19 of the drum and is provided with a splined hollow hub 36 having a bevel gear portion 37 meshing with a companion gear 37 mounted on an extension drive shaft 55. Rotatable with and axially shiftable in the v.hollow hub is a Ijaws on t e engine shaft 13. The other' end of the member 38 is provided with an annular `flange 41 which is positioned between two cam portions 42, 43 of a shifting mechanism. These cam portions are formed integral with a head 44 having ,a shank 45 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 46. The lower portion of the shank is fitted with an arm 47 which is connected by a link 48 to a rod 49 slidably mounted within an operating handle 50. The rod is secured in the handle 50 in a yieldable manner by the spring 51 and the nut 52, the function of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

In Figs. 4vand l5 there is shown in 'detail the two positions of the shifting mechanism forming in part what is generally known as v a toggle-joint and in which a bent link member 53 is pivotally connected at one end to the head 44, the other end of the bent link being connected to a tension spring 54 suitably anchored as shown in Fig. 2. The shifting of the meshing member 38 is accomplished in the following manner; The handle 50 is manually drawn towards the right causing the spring 51 therein to yield and at the same'time exerting a gradually increasing tension on' the spring 54 by virtue of the intermediate connection. When suiiicient pull has been imposed on the handle 50 for the spring 51 to overcome the power of the spring 54, the shifting 'mechanism comprising the bent link 53 and the head 44 with its associated cams 42, 43 will be suddenly moved with great acceleration from position Fig. 4 to position Fig. 5, the cams lsnapping the meshing member 38 into en-l gagement with the engine shaft.

Withreference to Fig. 3 there is shown a two-speed driving mechanismV in which a drive shaft 55 is operated either directly or through the gears 56, 57 by a means such as the crank handle 58. The connections 59, 60 provide universal joints in the shaft 55. Rotatable with and axially shifta'ble on the extension shaft 55a is a one-wayv clutch member 61 normally maintained in an engaged position by a spring 63 with asimilar clutch nilelptber 62 rotatably mounted on the same s a Pivotally mounted on a suitable fulcrum 64 formed on the casing, is a rocker arm 65 the. upper portionv of 'whichl` is bifurcated so as to embrace the clutch member 61. In each limb of the bifurcated portion'there is secured `a trunnion 66 adapted to engage a flange 67 on the clutch member; The lower portion of the rocker arm has an elongated slot 68 formed therein inwhich there is supported the connection between the link 48 and the rod 49. n g

The operation of the device is as follows:

. The stored energy of the flywheel is now to be applied to the engine shaft 13 which is at rest and to this end the handle 50 is manually drawn to the right, (Fig. 3). This action will cause the spring 51 to yield untll the compression thereof has "reached sufficient intensity 'to over-come the tension of the spring 54 when the meshing member 38 will be snapped into engagement with the engine shaft as hereinbefore described. When the above meshing takes place the rocker arm 65 is rocked about its fulcrum and moves the clutch member 61 away and free from its companion as a precaution against the sudden reversal of the crank handle by a possible backre in the engine.

As the fastly rotating fiy-wheel is suddenly connected to theengine which is at rest, excessive resistance would be imposed upon the mechanism dueto the inertia of the engine mass if some yielding means were not incorporated in the starter gear train. The friction clutch as herein disclosed provides an improved means ,for this purpose. It will be understood that when such an overload imposed'n on the mechanism the springs 33, which are set to transmit anpre determined load, will tend to yield and initiate relative motion between the gear 24 and the spider 30 that will result in a slight unwind-ing Aaction on the band 20 and .which will permit a slipping of the drum 18. ""Under the torque generated bythis slipping the engine will be rapidly" brought 'up to the speed corresponding to the speed of the iiywheel and thereafter the fly-wheel aidtengine will continue rotating at the relative -speeds preset by the gear train until' such time as the engine starts or until the kinetic energy in the wheelis exhausted.

When the engine begins to function andi" overruns the starting mechanism the meshing member 38 will be started out of engagement with the engine shaft due to the angular construction of the jaws 13, 39 and fully retracted with a snappy action by means of the spring 54 which acts to retract the mesh member 38 as soon'as the cam 42 has passed the dead center position. t

vIn the drawing the hand crank shaft is shown disposed transversely to the axis of the meshing member and connected thereto. by the bevel gears 37, 37. In cases where aA longitudinally disposed cranking handle is convenient this may be drivably others,

that the driving mechanism can also be transposed from rightto left if found to be more accessible when located in that posltion. p Y

Whereas in the present instance a manually operative'drive is shown, it is also considered within the scope of the invention to resortto any alternati-ve energizing ine-ans such as for example a motor using stored energy generated by the engine whllst running.

It will be seen that in starter mechanisms of the type disclosed the highest loads put upon the mechanism occur at the pinion 19 and its supporting bearing 17..

As explained in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 471,002,1led May 19, 1921, in order to obtain compactness in starter gears it is desirable to use as -few teeth as possible on the pinion, and a special construction whereby apinion having as few as live teeth is given adequate strength for the purpose is disclosed in said copending application.

In the case of aircraft engines, extreme lightness is ofparamount importance, and to this end the casing 7 would probably be made of aluminum or other light alloy. The adequate su port of the highly loaded 'pinion bearing y a casing of such an alloy presents dinculties and accordingly the steel plate 9 is made tosurround this pinion bearin so that the principal` loads-are transmitted directly through this plate to the engine casing 8 which is the anchorage for the entire starter.' D It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the casing 7 1s so constructed as to provide arelatively narrow extension enclosing the gear 35 which is disposed adjacent -to the opening in the engine 8 while the casing to the rear of the gear is made of relatively small radius. This is forthe purpose of providing clearance to avoid interference with such engine accessories as have led to undesirable restrictions in the diameter of the driving gear in some starters of the prior art.

Variations may be resortedtowithin the scope of the invention andportions of the lmprovements may be vused Without the whilst not departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus 'described my invention, I

coa

1. In' apparatus of' the class described, the combination with a meansto be started,

. of a hand crank, a fly-wheel, gearing thereber,

'engine starting mechanism. including a the vcombination with an engine to be started, of a power means, a eark train, a

the relatively high spring driving means operated by the gearing,` a friction driving means coacting withv sald spring-driving means and adapted to slip upon the yielding of said spring driving means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an engine to be started, of a iy-wheel, a reduction gear train, a preset spring means, a normally disengaged clutching lmeans driven from a gear in said train, and a normally engaged connection associated with the gear train, said normally engaged connection having a driv- `ing and a driven surface adapted for unitary movement b friction producing pressure engendered y said spring and by the reduction ofsaid friction .producing pressure for the advance of the driving surface relatively to the driven surface whenever the driving load excz'eds the pre-set limit.

r3. As a new article of manufacture, an i .engine starting mechanism, comprising a power member, a ily-wheel means, a drive transmitting connection therebetween, said y-wheel means adapted to rotate the engine for starting by virtue of energy im pressed in said fly-wheel bythe power memand automatically controlla-d frictional engaging. means in said connection adapted to restrain the force of saidl y-Wheel energy upon the mechanism when a resistance 1n excess of a predetermined amount is encountered.

4. As anew article of -manufacture, an

power-means, a drive transmitting Ispring means, a clutch driven through said spring means and actuated for slipping by the yielding of said spring 'means `under excessive driving loads, and a fly-wheel mounted for rotation and, adapted to absorb energy from said power means for subsequent ap plication through the clutch to the engine to be started.

5. In a device of the class described, the

load from the fly-wheel to the engine shaft,

a shiftable member driven from said iiywheel and adapted to engagev the engine drive shaft for starting, means for moving the shiftable member into and out of engagement with' the-engine drive shaft, and a means to rotate the ,fly-whe'fl -to high speeds through saidgea train.

6. In apparatus of the class described,

momentum member adapted or rotation Y from the power applied through the gear train, a clutch member drivable from the momentum member andadapted to be shift- N ed into and out ofenga'gement with the ,1,30

' prising in com ination,

gine, a load limiting clutch comprising a drum, a helical constrictable member frictionally engaging the drum, a pair of elements engaging either end of the helical member, and spring means between said elements to produce sure of the helical member on the drum, one of said elements forming a gear in said train and transmitting torque to the other element throu h said spring means.

7. starter for anr internal combustion engine, comprising' in combination, a flywheel ada ted to be rotated to relatively high Spee s, gearing means toconii'ect the iy-wheel 'for the rotation of an engine to be started at relatively lower speed, a preset driving spring, and a clutch associated with said gearing means; said clutch being adapted to slip upon the yielding of .said spring. i

8. A startin device for an engine, coma gear train' includspeed shaft and wheel on the high speed shaft, means for bringing the ii -wheel to a high speed of rotation, means or connecting the low speed shaft to an engine to be started, in combination with a clutch associated with ing a hih shaft, a, y-

said gear train and adapted to slip under a'l predetermined driving effort, and means ini corporated in said clutch whreby variacombination with an engine -to be starte the i tively high speed of friction at the sliptions in the coetlicient the effort under ping surface does notuvary which the clutch slips.` v l p 9. In a /device of the class described, the

having a drive shaft, of a hand crank, a fly-wheel, a gear train adapted to apply to drive shaft a multiplied torqucx effect from the ily-wheel, said gear train being also adapted to rotate the {1y-wheel at relaa spring subject to torque from a gear in said train, and a friction driving means having connection with said spring and adapted to slip upon the yielding of the spring.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an engine having a drive shaft, of.an operating shaft, a rotat-I able mass adapted. for acceleration when lenergy is' applied to said operating shaftand to kinetically store said energy, means for applying such stored energy to the drive vshaft of the engine for starting, the last said means including a friction drive adapted for slipping under a predetermined load, and a load subject spring of pre-set strength adapted to yield for the control of said slipping. r

11. A Astarting Vmechanism for an engine having a drive shaft, comprising in coinbiiiatioii, a clutching means adapted to engage said drive shaft, a slow speed shaft engaging said clutching means,

a high speed frictiony producing pres` a -low spiedfrom said hand crank,

train being adapted to transmit such energy to said clutching means, a load spring, and a friction clutch means in the gear train adapted to slip by the yielding of the load spring, f

12. In anv engine starting mechanism, the combination of a calibrated friction clutch, a rotatable mass associated with the friction clutch, and means for accelerating said mass for the storage of energytherein for delivery to an engine said means including a torque multiplying gear train and a driving means, said friction clutch being adapted to limit the torque delivered to to. less than the torque capacity of the mechanism. f 13. In an engine starter, the combination of a power member, a fly-wheel, and means for vaccelerating. the fly-wheel to relatively high from said power means and engaging means 4associated with thleJ power transmitting `means for drivably connecting the iiy wheel to the engine, said transmitting means including a friction clutch adapted to yield under a predetermined driving load for the suppression of excessive loads when said connection is established.

15. In a device for storing energy and applying the same to a means to Abe started, the combination 'of an operating shaft, a fly-wheel, a gear train connecting the operating shaft to the ii -wheel for the high speed rotation thereo a ratchet connection associated with the operating shaft to prevent the forward rotation vthereof by the' fly-wheel, means including the gears for di'ivably connecting the fly-wheel to the means lto be started, and a spring applied frictional driving means incorporated in the gear train wherein the spring is organized toorelease the friction when the driving load shall exceedthe spring pressure.

16. In anxengine starter, the combination with an engine shaft having engaging means, of a highv speed shaft, and intermediate speed shaft, la lowspeed shaft, gears drivably connecting said shafts, a flyLwheel on the high speed shaft, a calibrated friction adapted to transmit a multiplied torque from the y-wheel to the engine to clutch adapted to auto- .nected to said transmitting means and 10 d adapted to be `accelerated to high speeds 59 started, of a friction clutch means havinga clutch means on the intermediate speed gine shaft.

17. A starter for an engine, comprising in combination, a flywheel, means for driv'- ing the iywheel to a high speed of rotation, a train of gears forming adrive transmission adapted to. deliver a multiplied torque from said iiywheel to'an engine to be started, and in said train of gears a slippable friction clutch means havinguniform resistance to-the startingof and to the continuation of the slipping action.

18. The combination with an engine to be started, of a starter comprising. a rotatable low speed shaft-adaptedto engage the enmass adapted for acceleration to'high speed,

and a drive transmitting means between the rotatable mass and the en ine, said drive transmitting means inclu ing a friction clutch means having a friction producing load spring and in which vmeans the spring is opposed to the drive for yielding at a pre-set, load to cause a sli-ppage of the friction clutch means whenever suchpre-set load would otherwise be exceeded.

19. In a device for the starting of a power plant, the combination of a mass means for.

accumulating energy therein by acceleration of said mass to rotation athigh velocity, and neans for applying such accumulated energy to the power plant to be started, said applying means including` a, frictional driving connection adapted to start and to continue slipping lat a pre-set load and to drive without slipping at all loads less than that'preset.

20. In apparatusof the class described, the combination with an engine. to be started, of a iiy-wheel adapted for the accumulation of energy, a driving connection therebetween including a .driving spring, and a friction clutch means associated with the driving spring and normally applied by' a pre-set pressure of said driving spring so that such friction applying pressure shall be relieved when the driving load exceeds the pre-set pressure.,

2l. The combinationwith an-engine to be drive subject spring and adapted by the yielding of said spring to deliver a con-y stant torque when slipping, a y-wheel, and a torque multiplying gear between the iiywheel and the engine in Iwhich the friction clutch means is incorporated.

22. In apparatus ofthe class'described,l

' the combination with an engine to be started,

of a high speed shaft, a low speed shaft, a fiy-wheel on the high speed shaft, manually .operated driving means associated with the low speed shaft, clutching means for connecting the low speed shaft to the engine, and a gear train connecting said shafts, said gear train including slipping clutch means constituted to deliver a fixed driving effort at the instant of starting and to continue to do so while slipping.

23. The combination with an engine hav-- ing an engageable shaft, of an inertia device adapted for high speed of rotation independbeing organized with respect to the driving action to vary the friction creating pressure inversely to any variation 1n the frictionco'- eilicient of the friction means whenever the driving load exceedsa preset maximum, .a fiy-wheel adapted to pe driven from the power meiiber, and a connecting'means for driving the engine from said fly-wheel, said friction means being included in the connecting means.

25. The combination with an engine having a. drive shaft provided with engaging means, of an axially shiftable clutch adapted to mesh with said engaging means, a reduction gear train including a low speed gear, said clutch being rotatable by the low speed gear, a high speed flywheel initially drivable from a source of power applied through said train and yadapted tosubsequently drive the shiftable clutch by means of said train, and a frictional control means incorporated in the train; said control means bein adapted to limit the driving ei'ort of the ywheel on the clutch when the same encounters resistance in excess of a prede- .termined amount.

26. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination with an engine having a`n-5` drive shaft, of a ily-wheel, a gear train, a clutch means driven from the ily-wheelv through said train and adapted to engage the driveshaft for rotation, an adjustable slipping friction 'drive incorporated in the gear train, said friction drive being ada ted to be pre-set to transmit a predetermined load from the ily-wheel to the drive shaft, means for initially rotating the'lly-wheel to high speed through the gear train, and means adaptedto mesh the clutch vwith the drive shaft when the fly-wheel has attained high speed. i

27. In a device for operating a means be started, ,the combinationof a main crankfing shaft, an\ auxiliary cranking shaft v member towards yan engaged position,

vmeans including a first spring, a second A said meshing member a fly-wheel adapted for high from said main shaft for the stora e of energy therein, and a torque multiplying means connected to the'flyfwheel and normally nonfengaging the means to be started and adapted to be connected thereto in a manner so as to apply the multiplied effect from said means directlyA to the means tobe started.

28. In an engine starting mechanism, a gear train having a high speed shaft and a low speed shaft drivably connected, a flywheel .on the highA speed shaft, ashiftable meshing member on the low 4speed shaft adapted to engage and disengage an engine to be started, and an operatin means for geared thereto, speed rotation whereby the meshing member is always urged towards either the. fully meshed or, fully demeshed position. l

29. A-meshing device in- 1an engine starter, comprising in combination, a low spee shaft, a member on the shaft adapted to engage and disengage the engine to be started, means tending to urge 'said member away from the semi-meshed osition'intothe fully meshed or fully demeshed position, a power storing fly-wheel adapted for high speed rotation, and aA gear train drivably connecting the ily-wheel to'said low speed'shaft.'

30. An engine meshing evice in a starter comprising in combination, a meshingmember adapted to be\ axially moved into a meshed osition by manual means and into a demeshed position by the starting 0f an engine, and sprin means tending to urge the meshing'mem, r away from the semimeshed position.

31. `In starting apparatus having a meshing member for engaging and disengaging an engine to' be started, the combination of a manually operable means for actuating said member axially towards mesh position, means adapted to .producefdemesh of. said member upon the over-run of the engine when started and a toggle springl means tending to urge said meshing member towards the extremesof its' meshing or demeshing movement.

32. In a starting apparatus having a meshing member adapted to engage an engine to be 1 started, the combination of a means for manually operating said meshing said spring, and a toggle connection therebetweenwhereby the first spring is adapted to overcome the second 'spring for the suddenmovement of the meshing member to fully meshed position.

33.v 1n a starting mechanism having at member adapted to engage an engine'to'bef started, the combination of a manually operated means -including a, spring for producing such engaging action, a toggle and a inclu ing means` itially store :furtherspring means opposing said engaging action', the whole being organized 4 cause the first sfpRing means when operated toovercome the second spring means Vin the operation of the toggle to insure instanarable driving clutch to engage said mem-- ber, calibrated spring means, and a normally engaged drive transmitting means vhaving rictional engaging surfaces and having Connection with both the inertia device and theclutch, said drive transmitting means beingcontrolled bythe spring means to relieve the frictional engagement at a pre-set limit of the spring' when said d rotatable means is started.

An engine starting mechanism comprising in combination, a gear train, a fl wheel-mounted for rotation and drivably 'connected to said gear train, a shiftable starting clutch driven from a gear in said train and adapted to engage an engine mem- `ber, a shaft, for driving said gear train, a one-way driving clutch on said shaft, means for shiftingthe starting clutch, means for vdriving the shaft, means adapted to effect 4a release of the one-Way clutch when the starting 4clutch is engaging the engine member, and a slipping friction'clutch incorporated in 'Said gear train and comprising a preset yielding means-to control the slipping of said clutch.

36. The combination with combustion engine having an engageable member, of a gear train, a fly-wheel, a slippable `friction clutch, driving means in said gear train, a means to operate the fly-wheel through y said gear train and clutch, and an element adapted to engage said engine member for starting and' driven from said gear train b the utilization of energy inin the ily-wheel.

an internal i 37. The combinationwith' an internal I over the intermediate position'for demeshing.

shifted into A i 38. In a device f the class described, the

a yieldablev pre-set drive transmission in said gear tram.

39. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a means to be started, of an operating shaft, a fly-wheel a gear train connecting the operating shaft to the flywheel for the highspeed rotation thereof, a ratchet connection associated with the operating shaft to prevent ,the forward rotation thereof by the fly-wheel, means including the gear train for drivably connecting the fly-Wheel to the means to be started',

Asaid ratchet connection being non-drivably separated when the. engine 1s started, and a spring ap lied frietionall driving means-in# corporate in the s rmg serves to re ease the friction when t e driving load exceeds the spring pressure.

ear train wherein the l40. In an en 'ne .starter the combination i of a hand cra a ily-wheel, gearing,V therebetween adapted for the relatively hi h speed rotation of the fl -wheel from t e hand crank and for the owA speed driving of the engine to be started lfrom said fly- Wheel, a frictionally engaged driving means means for manually adjustng t e slipping load of the frictional drivin lmeans,` and automatic means for maintaining said load constant despite the condition of the slip ing surfaces. A 41. -In a starting evice, the combination with an engine havingan engageable member, of an operating shaft, a fly-wheel, a gear train connectin the operating shaft to the y-wheel'for t e high speed rotation in said earing,

thereof, a starting means driven from the fly-wheel through said gear train and adapted to be moved into a mes edvposition with the enga'geable member, and a ratchet connection associated with the operatingshaft to preventl the forward rotation thereof by they-wheel, said ratchetyconnection being interconnected with the starting means, for dsen agement when said starting means 1s move linto a meshed sition.

Si ed at Keyport 1n the county o f Monmout andState of New Jersey this 10th day of March, A. D. 1924.

ROLAND CHILTON. 

